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Liu Z, Fagherazzi S, He Q, Gourgue O, Bai J, Liu X, Miao C, Hu Z, Cui B. A global meta-analysis on the drivers of salt marsh planting success and implications for ecosystem services. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3643. [PMID: 38684646 PMCID: PMC11059165 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47769-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Planting has been widely adopted to battle the loss of salt marshes and to establish living shorelines. However, the drivers of success in salt marsh planting and their ecological effects are poorly understood at the global scale. Here, we assemble a global database, encompassing 22,074 observations reported in 210 studies, to examine the drivers and impacts of salt marsh planting. We show that, on average, 53% of plantings survived globally, and plant survival and growth can be enhanced by careful design of sites, species selection, and novel planted technologies. Planting enhances shoreline protection, primary productivity, soil carbon storage, biodiversity conservation and fishery production (effect sizes = 0.61, 1.55, 0.21, 0.10 and 1.01, respectively), compared with degraded wetlands. However, the ecosystem services of planted marshes, except for shoreline protection, have not yet fully recovered compared with natural wetlands (effect size = -0.25, 95% CI -0.29, -0.22). Fortunately, the levels of most ecological functions related to climate change mitigation and biodiversity increase with plantation age when compared with natural wetlands, and achieve equivalence to natural wetlands after 5-25 years. Overall, our results suggest that salt marsh planting could be used as a strategy to enhance shoreline protection, biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Sergio Fagherazzi
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Massachusetts, 02215, USA
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Olivier Gourgue
- Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junhong Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Yellow River Estuary Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Shandong, 257500, China
| | - Xinhui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China
| | - Chiyuan Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zhan Hu
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
- Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, 519000, China.
| | - Baoshan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
- Yellow River Estuary Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Shandong, 257500, China.
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China.
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2
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Gao Q, Liu Y, Liu Y, Liu Y, Miao C, Zhang Y, Li W, Yi X. Response of plants and soils to inundation duration and construction of the plant‒soil association mode in the hydro‒fluctuation belt of the reservoir wetland. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 357:120776. [PMID: 38579468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Hydro-Fluctuation Belt (HFB), a periodically exposed bank area formed by changes in water level fluctuations, is critical for damaging the reservoir wetland landscape and ecological balance. Thus, it is important to explore the mechanism of hydrological conditions on the plant-soil system of the HFB for protection of the reservoir wetland and landscape restoration. Here, we investigated the response of plant community characteristics and soil environment of the HFB of Tonghui River National Wetland Park (China), is a typical reservoir wetland, to the duration of inundation, as well as the correlation between the distribution of dominant plants and soil pH, nutrient contents, and enzyme activity by linear regression and canonical correlation analyses. The results show that as the duration of inundation decreases, the vegetation within the HFB is successional from annual or biennial herbs to perennial herbs and shrubs, with dominant plant species prominent and uneven distribution of species. Soil nutrient contents and enzyme activities of HFB decreased with increasing inundation duration. Dominant species of HFB plant community are related to soil environment, with water content, pH, urease, and available potassium being principle soil environmental factors affecting their distribution. When HFB was inundated for 0-30 days, soil pH was strongly acidic, with available potassium content above 150 mg kg-1 and higher urease activity, distributed with Arundo donax L., Polygonum perfoliatum L., Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb., and Daucus carota L. communities. When inundated for 30-80 days, soil pH was acidic, with lower available potassium content (50-150 mg kg-1) and urease activity, distributed with Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fern.+ Polygonum lapathifolium L., Polygonum lapathifolium L., Medicago lupulina L. + Dysphania ambrosioides L. and Leptochloa panicea (Retz.) Ohwi communities. Using the constructed HFB plant-soil correlation model, changes in the wetland soil environment can be quickly judged by the succession of plant dominant species, which provides a simpler method for the monitoring of the soil environment in the reservoir wetland, and is of great significance for the scientific management and reasonable protection of the reservoir-type wetland ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Gao
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, and Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yuhang Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, and Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yamin Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, and Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yumin Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, and Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Conglin Miao
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, and Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yulin Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, and Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Wei Li
- Wetland Protection and Management Center of Qijiang District, Chongqing, 404000, China
| | - Xiaotong Yi
- Wetland Protection and Management Center of Qijiang District, Chongqing, 404000, China
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3
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Hughes BB, Beheshti KM, Tinker MT, Angelini C, Endris C, Murai L, Anderson SC, Espinosa S, Staedler M, Tomoleoni JA, Sanchez M, Silliman BR. Top-predator recovery abates geomorphic decline of a coastal ecosystem. Nature 2024; 626:111-118. [PMID: 38297171 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06959-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The recovery of top predators is thought to have cascading effects on vegetated ecosystems and their geomorphology1,2, but the evidence for this remains correlational and intensely debated3,4. Here we combine observational and experimental data to reveal that recolonization of sea otters in a US estuary generates a trophic cascade that facilitates coastal wetland plant biomass and suppresses the erosion of marsh edges-a process that otherwise leads to the severe loss of habitats and ecosystem services5,6. Monitoring of the Elkhorn Slough estuary over several decades suggested top-down control in the system, because the erosion of salt marsh edges has generally slowed with increasing sea otter abundance, despite the consistently increasing physical stress in the system (that is, nutrient loading, sea-level rise and tidal scour7-9). Predator-exclusion experiments in five marsh creeks revealed that sea otters suppress the abundance of burrowing crabs, a top-down effect that cascades to both increase marsh edge strength and reduce marsh erosion. Multi-creek surveys comparing marsh creeks pre- and post-sea otter colonization confirmed the presence of an interaction between the keystone sea otter, burrowing crabs and marsh creeks, demonstrating the spatial generality of predator control of ecosystem edge processes: densities of burrowing crabs and edge erosion have declined markedly in creeks that have high levels of sea otter recolonization. These results show that trophic downgrading could be a strong but underappreciated contributor to the loss of coastal wetlands, and suggest that restoring top predators can help to re-establish geomorphic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent B Hughes
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, USA.
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA.
| | - Kathryn M Beheshti
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - M Tim Tinker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- Nhydra Ecological Research, Head of St Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Charlie Endris
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Geological Oceanography Lab, Moss Landing, CA, USA
| | - Lee Murai
- Division of Regional Assistance, California Department of Water Resources, West Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Sean C Anderson
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Espinosa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | - Joseph A Tomoleoni
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Madeline Sanchez
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, USA
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA
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Meng Z, Mo X, Meng W, Hu B, Li H, Liu J, Lu X, Sparks JP, Wang Y, Wang Z, He M. Biochar may alter plant communities when remediating the cadmium-contaminated soil in the saline-alkaline wetland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 899:165677. [PMID: 37478952 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
It is thought remediating cadmium pollution with biochar can affect plant traits. However, the potential impact of this practice on plant communities is poorly understood. Here, we established natural-germinated plant communities using soil seed bank from a saline-alkaline wetland and applied a biochar treatment in Cd-polluted wetland soil. The outcomes illustrated that Juglans regia biochar (JBC), Spartina alterniflora biochar (SBC), and Flaveria bidentis biochar (FBC) promoted exchangeable Cd transform into FeMn oxide bound Cd. Additionally, most biochar addition reduced species abundance, root-shoot ratio, biomass, diversity, and community stability, yet enhanced community height. Among all treatments, the 5 % SBC demonstrated the most significant reduction in species abundance, biomass, species richness and functional richness. Specifically, it resulted in a reduction of 92.80 % in species abundance, 73.80 % in biomass, 66.67 % in species richness, and 95.14 % in functional richness compared to the CK. We also observed changes in root morphological traits and community structure after biochar addition. Soil pH, salinity, and nutrients played a dominant role in shaping plant community. These findings have implications for biodiversity conservation, and the use of biochar for the remediation of heavy metals like cadmium should be approached with caution due to its potential negative impacts on plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Meng
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Xunqiang Mo
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Weiqing Meng
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Beibei Hu
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Hongyuan Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Xueqiang Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jed P Sparks
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Yidong Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Ziyi Wang
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China
| | - Mengxuan He
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300382, China.
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5
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Pétillon J, McKinley E, Alexander M, Adams JB, Angelini C, Balke T, Griffin JN, Bouma T, Hacker S, He Q, Hensel MJS, Ibáñez C, Macreadie PI, Martino S, Sharps E, Ballinger R, de Battisti D, Beaumont N, Burdon D, Daleo P, D'Alpaos A, Duggan-Edwards M, Garbutt A, Jenkins S, Ladd CJT, Lewis H, Mariotti G, McDermott O, Mills R, Möller I, Nolte S, Pagès JF, Silliman B, Zhang L, Skov MW. Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165544. [PMID: 37453706 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Coastal saltmarshes provide globally important ecosystem services including 'blue carbon' sequestration, flood protection, pollutant remediation, habitat provision and cultural value. Large portions of marshes have been lost or fragmented as a result of land reclamation, embankment construction, and pollution. Sea level rise threatens marsh survival by blocking landward migration where coastlines have been developed. Research-informed saltmarsh conservation and restoration efforts are helping to prevent further loss, yet significant knowledge gaps remain. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper identifies ten research priorities through an online questionnaire and a residential workshop attended by an international, multi-disciplinary network of 35 saltmarsh experts spanning natural, physical and social sciences across research, policy, and practitioner sectors. Priorities have been grouped under four thematic areas of research: Saltmarsh Area Extent, Change and Restoration Potential (including past, present, global variation), Spatio-social contexts of Ecosystem Service delivery (e.g. influences of environmental context, climate change, and stakeholder groups on service provisioning), Patterns and Processes in saltmarsh functioning (global drivers of saltmarsh ecosystem structure/function) and Management and Policy Needs (how management varies contextually; challenges/opportunities for management). Although not intended to be exhaustive, the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for addressing each research priority examined here, providing a blueprint of the work that needs to be done to protect saltmarshes for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Pétillon
- UMR CNRS ECOBIO, University of Rennes, 35042 Rennes, France; Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Summerstrand Campus, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa.
| | - Emma McKinley
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Meghan Alexander
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Janine B Adams
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Summerstrand Campus, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
| | - Christine Angelini
- Environmental School for Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment, University of Florida, Weil Hall 365, 1949 Stadium Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Thorsten Balke
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - John N Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Tjeerd Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Yerseke, the Netherlands; Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Building with Nature group, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, the Netherlands
| | - Sally Hacker
- Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Qiang He
- Duke University Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Marc J S Hensel
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Massachusetts, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Carles Ibáñez
- Climate Change Department, Area of Sustainability, Eurecat - Technological Centre of Catalonia, 43870 Amposta, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | | | - Elwyn Sharps
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, UK; Natural Resources Wales, TY Cambria, Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Rhoda Ballinger
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Davide de Battisti
- Chioggia Hydrobiological Station "Umberto D'Ancona", Department of Biology, University of Padova, Palazzo Grassi, Calle Grassi Naccari 1060, 30015 Chioggia, Ve, Italy
| | - Nicola Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Daryl Burdon
- Daryl Burdon Ltd., Marine Research, Teaching and Consultancy, Willerby HU10 6LL, UK
| | - Pedro Daleo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), UNMDP - CONICET, CC 1260 Correo Central, B7600WAG Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Andrea D'Alpaos
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Angus Garbutt
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Rd, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Stuart Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Cai J T Ladd
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Heather Lewis
- Natural Resources Wales, TY Cambria, Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Giulio Mariotti
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, 1002-Q Energy, Coast and Environment Building, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Osgur McDermott
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), UN-Environment, 219 Huntingdon Rd, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK
| | - Rachael Mills
- Natural England, Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX, UK
| | - Iris Möller
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK
| | - Stefanie Nolte
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR47TJ, UK; Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Jordi F Pagès
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Brian Silliman
- Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Liquan Zhang
- State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Martin W Skov
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
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6
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Valdez SR, Daleo P, DeLaMater DS, Silliman BR. Variable responses to top-down and bottom-up control on multiple traits in the foundational plant, Spartina alterniflora. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286327. [PMID: 37228166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
While the effects of top-down and bottom-up forces on aboveground plant growth have been extensively examined, less is known about the relative impacts of these factors on other aspects of plant life history. In a fully-factorial, field experiment in a salt marsh in Virginia, USA, we manipulated grazing intensity (top-down) and nutrient availability (bottom-up) and measured the response in a suite of traits for smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). The data presented within this manuscript are unpublished, original data that were collected from the same experiment presented in Silliman and Zieman 2001. Three categories of traits and characteristics were measured: belowground characteristics, litter production, and reproduction, encompassing nine total responses. Of the nine response variables measured, eight were affected by treatments. Six response variables showed main effects of grazing and/ or fertilization, while three showed interactive effects. In general, fertilization led to increased cordgrass belowground biomass and reproduction, the former of which conflicts with predictions based on resource competition theory. Higher grazing intensity had negative impacts on both belowground biomass and reproduction. This result contrasts with past studies in this system that concluded grazer impacts are likely relegated to aboveground plant growth. In addition, grazers and fertilization interacted to alter litter production so that litter production disproportionately increased with fertilization when grazers were present. Our results revealed both predicted and unexpected effects of grazing and nutrient availability on understudied traits in a foundational plant and that these results were not fully predictable from understanding the impacts on aboveground biomass alone. Since these diverse traits link to diverse ecosystem functions, such as carbon burial, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem expansion, developing future studies to explore multiple trait responses and synthesizing the ecological knowledge on top-down and bottom-up forces with trait-based methodologies may provide a promising path forward in predicting variability in ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie R Valdez
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Pedro Daleo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), CONICET - UNMDP, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - David S DeLaMater
- Nicholas School of the Environment, University Program In Ecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
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7
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Sharma A, Kumar D, Rallapalli S, Singh AP. Wetland functional assessment and uncertainty analysis using fuzzy α-cut-based modified hydrogeomorphic approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27556-3. [PMID: 37184791 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27556-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Wetlands are significant ecosystems which perform several functions such as ground water recharge, flood control, carbon sequestration, and pollution reduction. Accurate evaluation of wetland functions is challenging, due to uncertainty associated with variables such as vegetation, soil, hydrology, land use, and landscape. Uncertainty is due to the factors such as the cost of evaluating quality parameters, measurement, and human errors. This study proposes an innovative framework based on modified hydrogeomorphic approach (HGMA) using fuzzy α-cut technique. HGMA has been used for wetland functional assessment and α-cut technique is used to characterize uncertainty corresponding to the input variables and wetland functions. The most uncertain variables were found to be the density of wetlands and basin count in the landscape assessment area with the scores of 4.38% and 3.614% respectively. Among the functions, the highest uncertainty is found in functional capacity index (FCI) corresponding to water storage (1.697%) and retain particulate (1.577%). The quantified uncertainty can help the practitioners to make informed decisions regarding planning best management practices for preserving and restoring the wetland functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Department of Civil Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India
| | - Dhruv Kumar
- Computer Science and Engineering, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, New Delhi, India
| | - Srinivas Rallapalli
- Department of Civil Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India.
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin cities, USA.
| | - Ajit Pratap Singh
- Department of Civil Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India
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Temmerman S, Horstman EM, Krauss KW, Mullarney JC, Pelckmans I, Schoutens K. Marshes and Mangroves as Nature-Based Coastal Storm Buffers. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2023; 15:95-118. [PMID: 35850492 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-040422-092951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tidal marshes and mangroves are increasingly valued for nature-based mitigation of coastal storm impacts, such as flooding and shoreline erosion hazards, which are growing due to global change. As this review highlights, however, hazard mitigation by tidal wetlands is limited to certain conditions, and not all hazards are equally reduced. Tidal wetlands are effective in attenuating short-period storm-induced waves, but long-period storm surges, which elevate sea levels up to several meters for up to more than a day, are attenuated less effectively, or in some cases not at all, depending on storm conditions, wetland properties, and larger-scale coastal landscape geometry. Wetlands often limit erosion, but storm damage to vegetation (especially mangrove trees) can be substantial, and recovery may take several years. Longer-term wetland persistence can be compromised when combined with other stressors, such as climate change and human disturbances. Due to these uncertainties, nature-based coastal defense projects need to adopt adaptive management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Temmerman
- Ecosphere Research Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; , ,
| | - Erik M Horstman
- Water Engineering and Management, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Ken W Krauss
- Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, US Geological Survey, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA;
| | - Julia C Mullarney
- Coastal Marine Group, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand;
| | - Ignace Pelckmans
- Ecosphere Research Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; , ,
| | - Ken Schoutens
- Ecosphere Research Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; , ,
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Raposa KB, Bradley M, Chaffee C, Ernst N, Ferguson W, Kutcher TE, McKinney RA, Miller KM, Rasmussen S, Tymkiw E, Wigand C. Laying it on thick: Ecosystem effects of sediment placement on a microtidal Rhode Island salt marsh. FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2022; 10:10.3389/fenvs.2022.939870. [PMID: 36507471 PMCID: PMC9728635 DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.939870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Heightened recognition of impacts to coastal salt marshes from sea-level rise has led to expanding interest in using thin-layer sediment placement (TLP) as an adaptation tool to enhance future marsh resilience. Building on successes and lessons learned from the Gulf and southeast U.S. coasts, projects are now underway in other regions, including New England where the effects of TLP on marsh ecosystems and processes are less clear. In this study, we report on early responses of a drowning, microtidal Rhode Island marsh (Ninigret Marsh, Charlestown, RI) to the application of a thick (10-48 cm) application of sandy dredged material and complimentary extensive adaptive management to quickly build elevation capital and enhance declining high marsh plant species. Physical changes occurred quickly. Elevation capital, rates of marsh elevation gain, and soil drainage all increased, while surface inundation, die-off areas, and surface ponding were greatly reduced. Much of the marsh revegetated within a few years, exhibiting aspects of classic successional processes leading to new expansive areas of high marsh species, although low marsh Spartina alterniflora recovered more slowly. Faunal communities, including nekton and birds, were largely unaffected by sediment placement. Overall, sediment placement provided Ninigret Marsh with an estimated 67-320 years of ambient elevation gain, increasing its resilience and likely long-term persistence. Project stakeholders intentionally aimed for the upper end of high marsh plant elevation growth ranges to build elevation capital and minimize maintenance costs, which also resulted in new migration corridors, providing pathways for future marsh expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth B. Raposa
- RI Department of Environmental Management, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI, United States
| | - Michael Bradley
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Caitlin Chaffee
- RI Department of Environmental Management, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI, United States
| | - Nick Ernst
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior, Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Charlestown, RI, United States
| | | | | | - Richard A. McKinney
- Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, United States
| | - Kenneth M. Miller
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, VA, United States
| | - Scott Rasmussen
- Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, National Park Service, University of RI, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Elizabeth Tymkiw
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Cathleen Wigand
- Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, United States
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10
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Chen S, Sun Y, Tang K, Zhang F, Ding W, Wang A. Distribution Characteristics and Restoration Application of Vegetation in Chengcun Bay Surrounding Areas of Yangjiang City. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10399. [PMID: 36012034 PMCID: PMC9408589 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, global warming and sea level rise have further aggravated the risk of coastal erosion. Coastal vegetation plays an important role in resisting storm surges and alleviating coastal erosion. Therefore, screening plant species for the purpose of constructing ecological seawalls to protect or repair damaged coastal zones has become a hot issue. In this paper, a field survey was conducted to investigate the vegetation in Chengcun Bay surrounding areas of Yangjiang City by combining a line survey and sample plot survey. By understanding the vegetation types, distribution and community structure in the bay's surrounding areas and analyzing the restricting environmental factors of those plants, we put forward some countermeasures for coastal vegetation restoration in difficult site conditions from the aspects of plant species selection, vegetation configuration and restoration technology, so as to provide reference for ecological vegetation restoration in similar locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Chen
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Observation and Research Station of Island and Coastal Ecosystem in the Western Taiwan Strait, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yuanmin Sun
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Observation and Research Station of Island and Coastal Ecosystem in the Western Taiwan Strait, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Kunxian Tang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Observation and Research Station of Island and Coastal Ecosystem in the Western Taiwan Strait, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Fei Zhang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Observation and Research Station of Island and Coastal Ecosystem in the Western Taiwan Strait, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Weilun Ding
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Ao Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
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11
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Accelerated marsh erosion following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill confirmed, ameliorated by planting. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13802. [PMID: 35963962 PMCID: PMC9376092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18102-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have examined the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on coastal marsh shoreline erosion. Most studies have concluded that the spill increased shoreline erosion (linear retreat) in oiled marshes by ~ 100–200% for at least 2–3 years. However, two studies have called much of this prior research into question, due to potential study design flaws and confounding factors, primarily tropical cyclone influences and differential wave exposure between oiled (impact) and unoiled (reference) sites. Here we confirm that marsh erosion in our field experiment was substantially increased (112–233%) for 2 years in heavily oiled marsh after the spill, likely due to vegetation impacts and reduced soil shear strength attributed to the spill, rather than the influences of hurricanes or wave exposure variation. We discuss how our findings reinforce prior studies, including a wider-scale remote sensing analysis with similar study approach. We also show differences in the degree of erosion among oil spill cleanup treatments. Most importantly, we show that marsh restoration planting can drastically reduce oiled marsh erosion, and that the positive influences of planting can extend beyond the immediate impact of the spill.
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12
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Zengel S, Weaver J, Mendelssohn IA, Graham SA, Lin Q, Hester MW, Willis JM, Silliman BR, Fleeger JW, McClenachan G, Rabalais NN, Turner RE, Hughes AR, Cebrian J, Deis DR, Rutherford N, Roberts BJ. Meta-analysis of salt marsh vegetation impacts and recovery: a synthesis following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e02489. [PMID: 34741358 PMCID: PMC9285535 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine oil spills continue to be a global issue, heightened by spill events such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the largest marine oil spill in US waters and among the largest worldwide, affecting over 1,000 km of sensitive wetland shorelines, primarily salt marshes supporting numerous ecosystem functions. To synthesize the effects of the oil spill on foundational vegetation species in the salt marsh ecosystem, Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus, we performed a meta-analysis using data from 10 studies and 255 sampling sites over seven years post-spill. We examined the hypotheses that the oil spill reduced plant cover, stem density, vegetation height, aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass, and tracked the degree of effects temporally to estimate recovery time frames. All plant metrics indicated impacts from oiling, with 20-100% maximum reductions depending on oiling level and marsh zone. Peak reductions of ~70-90% in total plant cover, total aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass were observed for heavily oiled sites at the marsh edge. Both Spartina and Juncus were impacted, with Juncus affected to a greater degree. Most plant metrics had recovery time frames of three years or longer, including multiple metrics with incomplete recovery over the duration of our data, at least seven years post-spill. Belowground biomass was particularly concerning, because it declined over time in contrast with recovery trends in most aboveground metrics, serving as a strong indicator of ongoing impact, limited recovery, and impaired resilience. We conclude that the Deepwater Horizon spill had multiyear impacts on salt marsh vegetation, with full recovery likely to exceed 10 years, particularly in heavily oiled marshes, where erosion may preclude full recovery. Vegetation impacts and delayed recovery is likely to have exerted substantial influences on ecosystem processes and associated species, especially along heavily oiled shorelines. Our synthesis affords a greater understanding of ecosystem impacts and recovery following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and informs environmental impact analysis, contingency planning, emergency response, damage assessment, and restoration efforts related to oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI)TallahasseeFlorida32303USA
| | | | | | - Sean A. Graham
- Gulf South Research CorporationBaton RougeLouisiana70820USA
| | - Qianxin Lin
- Louisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisiana70803USA
| | - Mark W. Hester
- University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayetteLouisiana70504USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Nancy N. Rabalais
- Louisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisiana70803USA
- Louisiana Universities Marine ConsortiumChauvinLouisiana70344USA
| | | | - A. Randall Hughes
- Northeastern University Marine Science CenterNahantMassachusetts01908USA
| | - Just Cebrian
- Northern Gulf InstituteStennis Space CenterMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippi39529USA
| | | | - Nicolle Rutherford
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)SeattleWashington98115USA
| | - Brian J. Roberts
- Louisiana Universities Marine ConsortiumChauvinLouisiana70344USA
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13
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Hensel MJS, Silliman BR, van de Koppel J, Hensel E, Sharp SJ, Crotty SM, Byrnes JEK. A large invasive consumer reduces coastal ecosystem resilience by disabling positive species interactions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6290. [PMID: 34725328 PMCID: PMC8560935 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26504-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive consumers can cause extensive ecological damage to native communities but effects on ecosystem resilience are less understood. Here, we use drone surveys, manipulative experiments, and mathematical models to show how feral hogs reduce resilience in southeastern US salt marshes by dismantling an essential marsh cordgrass-ribbed mussel mutualism. Mussels usually double plant growth and enhance marsh resilience to extreme drought but, when hogs invade, switch from being essential for plant survival to a liability; hogs selectively forage in mussel-rich areas leading to a 50% reduction in plant biomass and slower post-drought recovery rate. Hogs increase habitat fragmentation across landscapes by maintaining large, disturbed areas through trampling of cordgrass during targeted mussel consumption. Experiments and climate-disturbance recovery models show trampling alone slows marsh recovery by 3x while focused mussel predation creates marshes that may never recover from large-scale disturbances without hog eradication. Our work highlights that an invasive consumer can reshape ecosystems not just via competition and predation, but by disrupting key, positive species interactions that underlie resilience to climatic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc J. S. Hensel
- grid.266685.90000 0004 0386 3207Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA USA ,grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Brian R. Silliman
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- grid.5477.10000000120346234NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands ,grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Enie Hensel
- grid.40803.3f0000 0001 2173 6074Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Sean J. Sharp
- grid.214458.e0000000086837370School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Sinead M. Crotty
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Jarrett E. K. Byrnes
- grid.266685.90000 0004 0386 3207Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA USA
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14
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Huang H, Xu C, Liu Q. ‘Social distancing’ between plants may amplify coastal restoration at early stage. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Huang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai P.R. China
| | - Chi Xu
- School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing P.R. China
| | - Quan‐Xing Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research and Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting East China Normal University Shanghai P.R. China
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15
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Beheshti KM, Wasson K, Angelini C, Silliman BR, Hughes BB. Long‐term study reveals top‐down effect of crabs on a California salt marsh. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Beheshti
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California 95064 USA
| | - Kerstin Wasson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California 95064 USA
- Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Royal Oaks California 95076 USA
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment University of Florida Gainesville Florida 32611 USA
| | - Brian R. Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Beaufort North Carolina 28516 USA
| | - Brent B. Hughes
- Department of Biology Sonoma State University Rohnert Park California 94928 USA
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16
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Pennings SC, Glazner RM, Hughes ZJ, Kominoski JS, Armitage AR. Effects of mangrove cover on coastal erosion during a hurricane in Texas, USA. Ecology 2021; 102:e03309. [PMID: 33576002 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that mangroves provide better coastal protection than salt marsh vegetation using 10 1,008-m2 plots in which we manipulated mangrove cover from 0 to 100%. Hurricane Harvey passed over the plots in 2017. Data from erosion stakes indicated up to 26 cm of vertical and 970 cm of horizontal erosion over 70 months in the plot with 0% mangrove cover, but relatively little erosion in other plots. The hurricane did not increase erosion, and erosion decreased after the hurricane passed. Data from drone images indicated 196 m2 of erosion in the 0% mangrove plot, relatively little erosion in other plots, and little ongoing erosion after the hurricane. Transects through the plots indicated that the levee (near the front of the plot) and the bank (the front edge of the plot) retreated up to 9 m as a continuous function of decreasing mangrove cover. Soil strength was greater in areas vegetated with mangroves than in areas vegetated by marsh plants, or nonvegetated areas, and increased as a function of plot-level mangrove cover. Mangroves prevented erosion better than marsh plants did, but this service was nonlinear, with low mangrove cover providing most of the benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven C Pennings
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA
| | - Rachael M Glazner
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, 77553, USA
| | - Zoe J Hughes
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA
- Department of Earth Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA
| | - John S Kominoski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Anna R Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, 77553, USA
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17
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Ostrowski A, Connolly RM, Sievers M. Evaluating multiple stressor research in coastal wetlands: A systematic review. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 164:105239. [PMID: 33422898 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Multiple stressors are ubiquitous in coastal ecosystems as a result of increased human activity and development along coastlines. Accurately assessing multiple stressor effects is essential for predicting stressor impacts and informing management to efficiently and effectively mitigate potentially complex ecological responses. Extracting relevant information on multiple stressor studies conducted specifically within coastal wetlands is not possible from existing reviews, posing challenges in highlighting knowledge gaps and guiding future research. Here, we systematically review manipulative studies that assess multiple anthropogenic stressors within saltmarsh, mangrove, and seagrass ecosystems. In the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in publications, with seagrasses receiving the most attention (76 out of a total of 143 studies). Across all studies, nutrient loading and temperature were tested most often (N = 64 and N = 48, respectively), while the most common stressor combination was temperature with salinity (N = 12). Stressor application and study design varied across ecosystems. Studies are mostly conducted in highly controlled environments, without considering how natural variations in the physicochemical environment of coastal ecosystems may influence stressor intensity and timing under these conditions. This may result in vastly different ecological responses across levels of biological organisation. Shifting focus from univariate analytical approaches to multivariate, particularly path analysis, will help elucidate complex ecological relationships and highlight direct and indirect effects of multiple stressors in coastal ecosystems. There is a solid foundation of multiple stressor research in coastal wetlands. However, we recommend future research enhance ecological realism in experimental design by studying the effects of stressor combinations whilst accounting for spatiotemporal variability that reflects natural conditions of coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andria Ostrowski
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast and Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast and Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Michael Sievers
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast and Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
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18
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Ditria EM, Sievers M, Lopez-Marcano S, Jinks EL, Connolly RM. Deep learning for automated analysis of fish abundance: the benefits of training across multiple habitats. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:698. [PMID: 33044609 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08653-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental monitoring guides conservation and is particularly important for aquatic habitats which are heavily impacted by human activities. Underwater cameras and uncrewed devices monitor aquatic wildlife, but manual processing of footage is a significant bottleneck to rapid data processing and dissemination of results. Deep learning has emerged as a solution, but its ability to accurately detect animals across habitat types and locations is largely untested for coastal environments. Here, we produce five deep learning models using an object detection framework to detect an ecologically important fish, luderick (Girella tricuspidata). We trained two models on footage from single habitats (seagrass or reef) and three on footage from both habitats. All models were subjected to tests from both habitat types. Models performed well on test data from the same habitat type (object detection measure: mAP50: 91.7 and 86.9% performance for seagrass and reef, respectively) but poorly on test sets from a different habitat type (73.3 and 58.4%, respectively). The model trained on a combination of both habitats produced the highest object detection results for both tests (an average of 92.4 and 87.8%, respectively). The ability of the combination trained models to correctly estimate the ecological abundance metric, MaxN, showed similar patterns. The findings demonstrate that deep learning models extract ecologically useful information from video footage accurately and consistently and can perform across habitat types when trained on footage from the variety of habitat types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M Ditria
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Michael Sievers
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Sebastian Lopez-Marcano
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Eric L Jinks
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
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19
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De Battisti D, Griffin JN. Below-ground biomass of plants, with a key contribution of buried shoots, increases foredune resistance to wave swash. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2020; 125:325-334. [PMID: 31631214 PMCID: PMC7442386 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Sand dunes reduce the impact of storms on shorelines and human infrastructure. The ability of these ecosystems to provide sustained coastal protection under persistent wave attack depends on their resistance to erosion. Although flume experiments show that roots of perennial plants contribute to foredune stabilization, the role of other plant organs, and of annual species, remains poorly studied. Furthermore, it remains unknown if restored foredunes provide the same level of erosion resistance as natural foredunes. We investigated the capacity of three widespread pioneer foredune species (the perennial Ammophila arenaria and the annuals Cakile maritima and Salsola kali) to resist dune erosion, and compared the erosion resistance of Ammophila at natural and restored sites. METHODS Cores collected in the field were tested in a flume that simulated a wave swash. A multi-model inference approach was used to disentangle the contributions of different below-ground compartments (i.e. roots, rhizomes, buried shoots) to erosion resistance. KEY RESULTS All three species reduced erosion, with Ammophila having the strongest effect (36 % erosion reduction versus unvegetated cores). Total below-ground biomass (roots, rhizomes and shoots), rather than any single compartment, most parsimoniously explained erosion resistance. Further analysis revealed that buried shoots had the clearest individual contribution. Despite similar levels of total below-ground biomass, coarser sediment reduced erosion resistance of Ammophila cores from the restored site relative to the natural site. CONCLUSIONS The total below-ground biomass of both annual and perennial plants, including roots, rhizomes and buried shoots, reduced dune erosion under a swash regime. Notably, we show that (1) annual pioneer species offer erosion protection, (2) buried shoots are an important plant component in driving sediment stabilization, and (3) management must consider both biological (plants and their traits) and physical (grain size) factors when integrating dunes into schemes for coastal protection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John N Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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20
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Abstract
Benefits derived from natural ecosystems are commonly mentioned as justification for protecting and restoring habitats, yet measuring these services can be challenging. New research quantitatively assessed an ecosystem service provided by coastal marshes and revealed that removal of smooth cordgrass significantly increased coastal erosion, clearly demonstrating that marshes protect shorelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delbert Lee Smee
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab 101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL, USA; Department of Marine Sciences University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA.
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